TOMMY BOWE AND Rory Best scored a try apiece on their first start of the season but it was the young guns who drove Ulster on to a bonus-point win against Treviso.
Man of the match Luke Marshall opened the scoring with the first of Ulster’s five tries while winger Michael Allen scored one in either half.
Before kick-off all of the talk focused on Bowe and Best, making their seasonal debuts following their involvement with the Lions this summer.
Mark Anscombe saw his veterans hit the ground running in their first game back but with the Heineken Cup just around the corner, Allen’s two-try show could give Ulster’s coach a selection headache.
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Craig Gilroy tackled by Edoardo Gori and Christian Loamanu (INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
“The more experience that I get the better I become and the easier it is to play at the highest level,” Allen, 22, told BBC Sport afterwards.
“It is a long list at the back three and I’m just going to try to do everything I can to win a spot against Leicester.”
Paddy Jackson opened the scoring with a penalty in the 11th minute but despite early dominance, Ulster found themselves pegged back to 3-3 by Mat Berquist.
Marshall’s opening try was converted by Jackson and when Allen was set free in the corner by Chris Henry on 29 minutes, he touched down to stretch Ulster’s lead.
Jackson missed his conversion from a difficult angle, leaving the score at 15-3 at the break, but the out-half played a key role in Ulster’s third, flighting a cross-field kick towards Bowe.
Ludovico Nitoglia should have done better but the winger spilled the ball under little pressure and Bowe gratefully gathered to open his account.
YouTube Credit: Pro12
Superb midfield work from Marshall opened the door for Best to seal the bonus point and after Robert Barbieri finally crossed for a Treviso try in the 70th minute, Allen skated free to put the finishing touch on the win.
Tommy Bowe scores on his Ulster return but two-try Allen steals the show
Ulster 32-13 Benetton Treviso
TOMMY BOWE AND Rory Best scored a try apiece on their first start of the season but it was the young guns who drove Ulster on to a bonus-point win against Treviso.
Man of the match Luke Marshall opened the scoring with the first of Ulster’s five tries while winger Michael Allen scored one in either half.
Before kick-off all of the talk focused on Bowe and Best, making their seasonal debuts following their involvement with the Lions this summer.
Mark Anscombe saw his veterans hit the ground running in their first game back but with the Heineken Cup just around the corner, Allen’s two-try show could give Ulster’s coach a selection headache.
Craig Gilroy tackled by Edoardo Gori and Christian Loamanu (INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
“The more experience that I get the better I become and the easier it is to play at the highest level,” Allen, 22, told BBC Sport afterwards.
“It is a long list at the back three and I’m just going to try to do everything I can to win a spot against Leicester.”
Paddy Jackson opened the scoring with a penalty in the 11th minute but despite early dominance, Ulster found themselves pegged back to 3-3 by Mat Berquist.
Marshall’s opening try was converted by Jackson and when Allen was set free in the corner by Chris Henry on 29 minutes, he touched down to stretch Ulster’s lead.
Jackson missed his conversion from a difficult angle, leaving the score at 15-3 at the break, but the out-half played a key role in Ulster’s third, flighting a cross-field kick towards Bowe.
Ludovico Nitoglia should have done better but the winger spilled the ball under little pressure and Bowe gratefully gathered to open his account.
YouTube Credit: Pro12
Superb midfield work from Marshall opened the door for Best to seal the bonus point and after Robert Barbieri finally crossed for a Treviso try in the 70th minute, Allen skated free to put the finishing touch on the win.
As it happened: Leinster v Cardiff Blues, RaboDirect Pro12
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Luke Marshall michael allen Pro12 Rory Best Benetton Treviso Tommy Bowe Ulster